{"id":1421,"date":"2010-01-02T13:40:01","date_gmt":"2010-01-02T18:40:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.yuriar.com\/wp\/?p=1421"},"modified":"2010-01-02T13:40:01","modified_gmt":"2010-01-02T18:40:01","slug":"adios-2009-its-been-well-interesting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yuriar.com\/katp\/2010\/01\/02\/adios-2009-its-been-well-interesting\/","title":{"rendered":"Adios 2009… It's been.. well.. interesting."},"content":{"rendered":"

2009 was insane. I know. I really didn’t blog much at all for the last half of the year, but it’s not for lack of material.\u00a0 Seriously, I think I probably had a frillion posts all written in my head. Unfortunately, by the time I had time to sit and write, I had no energy or drive to do so!\u00a0 So… let’s just do a quick rundown, shall we?\u00a0 Strap yourselves in… this is gonna be a long one. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

January<\/strong><\/em><\/a> – BigBoy turned 4, and the month passed way too fast for my liking.<\/p>\n

February<\/strong><\/em><\/a> – DH deployed for 6 months, his first time deploying on a boat in 19+ years with the Navy.\u00a0 Yes, he’s been extremely lucky like that.<\/p>\n

March<\/strong><\/em><\/a> – March was a very difficult month.\u00a0 I started a downhill slide into a deep depression.\u00a0 I wasn’t sleeping well, I missed my husband, I was stressed to the max, and July, when DH was due home, seemed like a lifetime away.<\/p>\n

April<\/strong><\/em><\/a> – Easter was good, though we missed DH.\u00a0 I finally accepted that I wasn’t just going to “snap out of it” and got some help.\u00a0 Those little pink “happy” pills made all the difference, and suddenly life was not just bearable, but even enjoyable again.<\/p>\n

May <\/strong><\/em>– Apparently I didn’t blog at all.\u00a0 I did take some photos<\/a>, though I didn’t upload them all. We upgraded our cell plan to allow me to txt to DH’s email from anywhere.\u00a0 An unfortunate side effect was that I took more photos with the crappy cell phone cam then I did with my real camera.\u00a0 I also began reading up on wedding photography again, in preparation for my sister’s upcoming wedding.\u00a0 The TXT’ing, combined with the self-applied pressure led to a bloggy block.\u00a0 There was just nothing left to type at the end of the day.\u00a0 But so much happened in May!<\/p>\n

\"Learning<\/a>The kids took swimming lessons. Oh, the drama.\u00a0 Let’s just say that I did not get along with the original swim instructor.\u00a0 We got into it a few times.\u00a0 But I did find a wonderful woman who is brilliant with kids and swim lessons.\u00a0 If we ever get a chance to do lessons again, I want her to be their instructor.\u00a0 We even discovered a cheap option for year ’round swimming.\u00a0 May not have been able to take advantage of it, but it’s nice to know its there.<\/p>\n

Also in May, my sister-in-law came for a visit with her two little cuties.\u00a0 BigBoy had a blast with his Tio because he finally had a guy he could really let loose and jump all over.<\/p>\n

GeekBoy learned how to climb the tree out front.\u00a0 He helped me change the home air filter and the wiper blades.\u00a0 He pitched in around the house and helped take out the trash.\u00a0 Big Boy learned to swing, all by himself. He had the best time out there pumping his legs and getting the swing higher and higher. thePinkDiva got bit by something at a church picnic, and wound up with a case of cellulitis<\/a> in her arm.<\/p>\n

May was also the month that made me realize that maybe testing the kids for Learning Disabilities, ADHD, et al, was not a bad thing.\u00a0 I’d been resisting the testing, figuring that I already had some solid ideas on what each kid needed in the way of help.\u00a0 But my experience with anti-depressants in April, plus some other factors, made me rethink my position a bit.\u00a0 So GeekBoy’s testing was scheduled for the first week of June.<\/p>\n

\"Gramma<\/a>June<\/strong><\/em> – Again, I didn’t blog at all.\u00a0 Not many photos either.\u00a0 I was stressing out over my role as photographer for my little sister’s wedding.\u00a0 GeekBoy’s testing was scheduled, and my good friend Renee was a great help.\u00a0 She willingly babysat the younger kids every time I had to take GeekBoy in.\u00a0 We also went to Busch Gardens a few times, had a blast in the new Sesame Street area.\u00a0 Then Gramma came over for a visit, to help out for a weekend and try to give me a break, and the kids actually talked her into riding the Grover Coaster. A great time was had by all!<\/p>\n

July<\/strong><\/em> – I posted a grand total of one time, about the Fourth of July<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>July 11, Nani & NinjaPenguin were finally tying the knot.\u00a0 The 4 hour drive to my mom’s house was tricky in itself, because it is next to impossible for me to drive that long of a distance without falling asleep.\u00a0 Arrangements had to be made, careful planning and strategy had to be employed to get us all there in one piece.\u00a0 We made it.\u00a0 The wedding was absolutely beautiful.\u00a0 Geekboy was a videographer, thePinkDiva was the flower girl, and BigBoy was the ring bearer.\u00a0 The three of them put on quite a show throughout the ceremony.\u00a0 None of them were disruptive, but they all supplied some comedic relief.\u00a0 Then it was over, as was the easy part of my job as photographer.\u00a0 After more careful planning we made it back home and I began stage two of wedding photography – photo editing.\u00a0 I was intent on getting the job done in 2 weeks.\u00a0 Not because my sister or mother wanted it done that fast, but because I wanted to have the job over with before my husband was due home at the end of the month.\u00a0 The kids were fabulous, and well-behaved, and very helpful around the house as I worked on photos.<\/p>\n

I started making my plans for the next homeschool year, doing my research,\u00a0 making curriculum choices and lesson plans.\u00a0 The kids and I started working on homecoming plans.\u00a0 DH and I also started coordinating his retirement ceremony via email, as he was due to retire about a week after he got home.\u00a0 My Sister-In-Law pitched in, and was fabulous as the family travel agent, arranging flights and such for DH’s parents to be able to come to the ceremony.<\/p>\n

Somewhere in the middle of all that, GeekBoy’s testing results came back.\u00a0 I was informed that we have an ADHD, LD Aspie.\u00a0 Even though I had suspected everything the results said, it was still a bit of an over whelming shock to see my suspicions confirmed by a medical professional.\u00a0 I knew about the Dysgraphia, and the ADHD.\u00a0 The Processing disorder caught me off guard a bit, but I had suspected the Asperger’s Syndrome for a while.\u00a0 He’s still the same, amazing kid he has always been, but at least now we have a greater understanding of why he acts the way he does.\u00a0 We have chosen to not medicate at this point.\u00a0 Homeschooling is now not just a choice, but doctor recommended, as the perfect method of teaching this wonderfully creative boy.<\/p>\n

Then, the day came.\u00a0 July 30th we drove to the base and staked out some spots in the parking lot.\u00a0 Renee and her kids showed up and parked next to us, and the kids had a blast out in the parking lot while we waited.\u00a0 And waited.\u00a0 and waited.\u00a0 My 3 kids and her 4 kids had fun playing together between and in both cars with the books and toys we’d brought.\u00a0 Then finally the boat pulled in! Oh! the excitement!\u00a0 Daddy was soooo close!\u00a0 A few more hours of waiting for ceremonial stuff to be done and the guys to be let off, and we had him!\u00a0 Daddy was home!<\/p>\n

\"Retiring\"<\/a>August<\/strong><\/em> – We no sooner had DH home, then family started flying in and driving down from all across the country.\u00a0 At one point, we had 11 people in our small, 4 bedroom home.\u00a0 It was cramped, but wonderful! We hadn’t seen DH’s side of the family in years.\u00a0 It was so much fun to be able to play host and show off the house and all the hard work we’d put into it.<\/p>\n

DH’s retirement ceremony was held on board the carrier.\u00a0 He did it that way so that our kids would get a chance to get on board and see where he’d been living for the last six months, and this was the only way the 4 year old would be allowed on board.\u00a0 It was a wonderful, touching ceremony.\u00a0 At one point, DH’s Chief told me, “We’ve had him for 20 years, now it’s your turn.”\u00a0 One of the poems read was called “The Watch<\/a>“.\u00a0 I was absolutely in tears when I heard the last line:<\/p>\n

Shipmate you stand relieved.. we have the watch.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Abuela<\/a>After the ceremony, we all headed back to the house for a party! I had made the Carne Asada in advance, but my mother-in-law helped with the rest of the food.\u00a0 Chili, Mexican Rice, Beans, all that stuff this gringa hasn’t a clue how to make! *S* We had 16 people squished into the house that day.\u00a0 Thankfully it was a nice day and we were able to use the deck out back.\u00a0 The cousins (my 3, and SIL’s 2) had a great time playing in the yard.\u00a0 Then my kids tried to beat their 2 teenage cousins on the Wii, and actually did a pretty good job of it.\u00a0 It was so much fun, and everyone got along for at least one day.<\/p>\n

\"Abuelo<\/a>The next day, my sister-in-law, her munchkins, my father-in-law & his brother, DH’s Tio & his boys, and my mom all left.\u00a0 Since my Mother-in-law and her boyfriend were staying at a hotel up the road, we had the house to ourselves for the first time, pretty much since DH got home.\u00a0 The next week we spent plenty of time with DH’s mom, and visited the Aquarium and the zoo.\u00a0 All too soon the time had come, and they were gone. The rest of August passed in a blur of relief as the weariness took over and we just relaxed and enjoyed the time together.\u00a0 DH was home, all was right with the world.<\/p>\n

\"Wieldin'<\/a>September<\/strong><\/em> – DH began his job search, and the boys’ soccer season started.\u00a0 We began working on lessons again, and the kids started taking lessons at the local Cultural Arts Center.\u00a0 They got classes in Art, Theater\/Music, and Martial Arts\/Dance, and loved it. We all made a few new friends, and really enjoyed the atmosphere. \u00a0 One day, around the middle of the month, a huge branch just fell out of the tree out front.\u00a0 No apparent reason for it either.\u00a0 Luckily, no one was hurt, and there was no damage done as it fell into the empty street.\u00a0 DH rented a chainsaw and we added to our firewood pile.\u00a0 Weekends were consumed with soccer games, and weekdays passed in a blur of Math, Reading, Phonics, and more.\u00a0 Then a storm hit, and even more of the tree fell, again, into the street.\u00a0 This time the only casualties were about 10 birds, who had sought refuge from the storm in the tree and never had a chance. \ud83d\ude41 Such a huge part fell, that we felt it prudent to call in a professional, and the tree was removed.<\/p>\n

\"BigBoy<\/a>October<\/strong><\/em> – DH was still looking for a new job, and feeling the pressure because his Terminal Leave would be over at the end of the month.\u00a0 We took a field trip to Jamestown, continued classes at the Cultural Arts Center, and played a lot of soccer, even though we got rained out a few times.\u00a0 DH was baptized in the middle of the month. Halloween came around, and we made Sugar Skulls<\/a>, sort of.<\/p>\n

November<\/strong><\/em> – GeekBoy completed his math book, 3 months ahead of schedule.\u00a0 The classes at the Cultural Art Center ended, and we got tickets to see Avner the \"Thanksgiving<\/a>Eccentric.\u00a0 Great show, btw.\u00a0 Our Thanksgiving plans to go up to my mom’s house were changed because DH got a job! He’s now working for JC Penney, on the replenishment team and loves it.\u00a0 The soccer season ended abruptly when the last game of the year was flooded out.\u00a0 Did I say flood?\u00a0 Because, oh yes. It rained soooo much that the local area was flooded! We were lucky, having been smart enough to pay attention to the flood plains when buying our home, but many others have been underwater since Thanksgiving.\u00a0 Every time the water starts to recede, we get more rain!<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>December<\/strong><\/em> – GeekBoy turned 9 years old.\u00a0 Wow.\u00a0 Where did the time go?\u00a0 As I began to feel guilty about my lack of blogging and all the little details that were quickly escaping my memory, GeekBoy put things into perspective<\/a> for me.\u00a0 We baked & ate a lot of cookies.\u00a0 I found an ingenious way to keep the gingerbread house from falling apart.\u00a0 GeekBoy ripped through book 1 of the Harry Potter series in 24 hours.\u00a0 BigBoy kicked all our butts at Wii Bowling.\u00a0 We got a tiny smattering of snowflakes and Geekboy instantly tried to scrape whatever he could together to throw at people.\u00a0 Gramma came down to visit for Christmas.\u00a0 Christmas was small, but good, and the kids just loved all the Bionicles they got.<\/p>\n

So that was 2009.\u00a0 I’d say “in a nutshell” but this post is way too long for that.\u00a0 Of course, that’s what happens when you quit blogging for almost 6 months!\u00a0 So here’s to 2010.\u00a0 Hopefully I’ll be better at keeping up with the blogging, and the photos, and the scrapbooking, etc….\u00a0 but…. I wouldn’t count on it. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

2009 was insane. I know. I really didn’t blog much at all for the last half of the year, but it’s not for lack of material.\u00a0 Seriously, I think I …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1421","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-family_life"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/yuriar.com\/katp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1421","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/yuriar.com\/katp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/yuriar.com\/katp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yuriar.com\/katp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yuriar.com\/katp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1421"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/yuriar.com\/katp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1421\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/yuriar.com\/katp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1421"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yuriar.com\/katp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1421"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yuriar.com\/katp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1421"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}